CHAPTER XXX.
THE LAST CAMPAIGN.
Position of Affairs. — Grant's Letter to Sheridan. — Cavalry Raids. — Sheridan's Movement to Waynesboro'. — Attack upon Early. — Advance to James River. — Moves to White House. — Joins Grant. — Alarm in Richmond. — Lee's last Offensive Movement. — Attack on Fort Steadman. — Repulse of Gordon. — Grant's Order to "finish up" the Rebellion. — Sherman's Visit to Grant. — Great Men in Council. — Grant's Line. — Sheridan on the Move. — Lee's Diversion against the Ninth Corps. — Night Attack. — A Rebel Prisoner. — A Look at the Opposing Forces. — Hatcher's Run. — Lee's Line of Fortifications. — Grant feels like ending the Matter. — Battle of Dinwiddie Court-House. — Advance of the Fifth Corps. — Battle of Five Forks. — Charge of the Fifth Corps. — Merritt's Attack. — Rout of the Rebels. [485]
CHAPTER XXXI.
RICHMOND.
Jeff Davis a Fugitive. — Blowing up of the Rebel Ironclads. — Grant in Petersburg. — President Lincoln and the Soldiers. — Ride to Richmond. — Lee's Message to Davis. — Consternation in Richmond. — Rev. Messrs. Hoge and Duncan. — The last Slave Coffle. — Confederate Promises to Pay. — Scenes of Sunday Night. — Pillaging the City. — Flight of the Legislature. — General Ewell and the Mayor in regard to burning the City. — The Massacre at the Almshouse. — Firing the City. — Departure of the Rebel Troops. — Breckenridge taking a last Look of the City. — Sunrise. — Major Stevens and the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry. — Surrender of the City. — Raising Flags on the Capitol. — The Yankees putting out the Flames. — Entrance of General Weitzel. — Taking a room at the Spottswood Hotel. — Scenes in the City on Monday. — General Devens's Orders. — Visit to the Capitol. — Admiral Farragut. — President Lincoln's Arrival. — Joy of the Colored People. — Walk to Jeff Davis's Mansion. — Judge Campbell. — Admiral Porter. — The President's Visit to Libby Prison. — Opinions of the People. — Colored Soldiers in the Service of the Rebels. — Lee's Opinions. — An Abolitionist in Richmond. — A Newspaper Correspondent and a Rebel Officer. — At the Capitol. — Scenes of the Past. — Christian Charity. [499]
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CONFEDERATE LOAN.
Attitude of Great Britain. — Sympathies of Palmerston and Russell. — The English Press. — Operatives of Lancashire. — The London Times. — Opinions of Mr. Spence. — His Appointment as Financial Agent. — Address of the London Confederate Aid Association. — Whittier's Lines to Englishmen. — Mr. Mason at St. James. — His Griefs. — Benjamin's Letter to Mason. — Mr. De Leon appointed Agent to subsidize the Press of Europe. — Englishmen engaged in Blockade-Running. — English Ship-builders at work for the Slaveholders. — Funds needed. — Benjamin's Letter to Spence. — Rebel Coin shipped in British Vessels of War. — Slidell's Proposition for a Loan based on Cotton. — French intrigue to sever Texas from the Confederacy. — Mr. Slidell recommends D'Erlanger as a suitable Agent to negotiate the Loan. — D'Erlanger offers it to the Bankers of London. — Mr. De Leon secures the Support of the Press. — Opening of the Correspondence. — D'Erlanger's Opinion of Mr. Spence. — Mr. Spence's Proposal. — Rush for Subscriptions. — Mr. Spence's Letter to D'Erlanger. — Compliments of the Emperor to D'Erlanger on the Success of the Loan. — Jeff Davis a Repudiator. — Rancor of the London Times in 1849. — Eats its Words in 1863. — Whitewashes Davis. — Opinions of Mr. Sampson. — Opinions of Mr. Delaine. — The Times in the Pay of Jeff Davis. — How the Support of the Newspapers was secured. — Mr. Spence receives £6,500 as Correspondent of the Times. — Meeting of Rebels in Paris. — How the Loan was sustained. — D'Erlanger's good Game. — Wishes for a Second Loan. — D'Erlanger takes the Part of Shylock. — Trouble with McRae. — D'Erlanger helping Himself to Principal and Interest. — Schroeder & Co. in the "Ring." — Payments of Money. — Who was benefited. — The present Bondholders. [523]
CHAPTER XXXIII.
SURRENDER OF LEE.
The Retreat of Lee from Petersburg. — Dejection of Rebel Soldiers. — Grant's Intentions. — Lee's Line of Retreat. — Grant ahead of him. — Panic among the Rebel Troops. — Meade's Movements. — Battle at Sailor's Creek. — Custar's Charge. — Skirmish at Farmville. — The Race toward Lynchburg. — Sheridan's Movement. — Lee's last Council of War. — Correspondence between Lee and Grant. — The Meeting. — The Surrender. — Announcement to the Armies. — Pickett's Treason. — Rest and Peace. [543]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
CONCLUSION.
General Grant at City Point. — The End of the Rebellion. [556]